Protecting Freedoms Online: La Quadrature's Proposals

Paris, June 23 2011 — La Quadrature du Net releases a set of proposals[2] to guarantee freedom of communication on the Internet and allow the network to remain a tool for democracy, culture and socio-economic innovation. The citizen organisation encourages all citizens to share these proposals and discuss them with decision-makers.

We are at a turning point in the history of the Internet. The HADOPI[3] law in France, the G8's decision to control the Net[4], ACTA[5], the US and French governments' reaction to WikiLeaks[6], the rapid expansion of censorship[7] policies, including in democratic countries, are only a few examples of the threats that put its future in jeopardy.

Against these threats, citizens must urgently act to ensure that the Internet remains a tool for democracy, human development and innovation. With these objectives in mind, La Quadrature du Net presents its proposals[2]1. The citizen organization invites all citizens to make these proposals their own in order to discuss them, in particular with policy makers.

These proposals follow three key directions:

Protecting Human Rights in the digital society.

Guarantee the right to a fair trial

Guarantee the assumption of legality for every online publication

Reconsider the limits of freedom of expression in an renewed public sphere

Ensuring that the Internet will remain technically free and open

Protect Net Neutrality by law

Promote the development of shared wireless networks

Support the development of user-controlled servers and terminals

Promoting the free sharing of culture and knowledge

Recognize sharing in law and in practice

Explore new funding models for creation, information and the media

Reinforce the public domain and make the digital heritage available to everybody

“These proposals are intended to enable citizens to adapt our society and our legislation to the Internet and its democratic potential. As we are reaching a climax in the tension between those who want to seize control of the Internet and those who want to enjoy their freedom and new capabilities, it is vital to act so as to protect fundamental rights online.” says Jérémie Zimmermann, spokesperson of the citizen advocacy group La Quadrature du Net.